All posts filed under: lifestyle

What exactly is a lifestyle blogger? It’s vague, I know (no one really knows), here’s one version of it. Managing a blog, personal life and a career, life can be a bit insane. But that’s ok, because I love every minute of it. Striving for a work-life balance as a marketing professional, blogger and travel enthusiast, I thought I’d take you along for the ride. Learn how to live a healthy lifestyle with less clutter and no time, from food blog posts and interior inspo to active lifestyle and current thoughts on handling the crazy. Welcome to a day in my dreams.

cost of being a luxury fashion blogger

The Financial Costs Involved with Being a Successful Blogger

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Traveling the world, enjoying unbelievable experiences, being outfitted in the latest luxury fashion – what’s not to love. It’s no wonder so many people are taking to their computers, phones and cameras in pursuit of blogging. With the increasing number of bloggers present online, it’s easy for people to think it’s easy and comes without a cost. However, the most successful fashion bloggers will tell you that this is a general misconception of the industry. photography:KRISTINA PETRICK | camera:CANNON 5D MARK III   The blogging industry is growing fast with over 500 million content sites across the web. However, as brands are turning to content creation to drive traffic and increase revenue, it’s becoming more saturated. Not only that, with rising competition, attracting a significant readership has also increased the average cost of a maintaining a blog. Blogging isn’t free. To be a successful blogger, you need to think of it as a business. And as with any business, you have to know the costs in order to turn it into a success Starting a …

leopard print dress

so you think you can play with the big cats

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In Bandhavgarh India, I had the opportunity to visit the national parks and take (multiple) safaris through the tiger reserve. All creatures there are free to roam, with the exception of a few unconnected fence lines intended to deter the big cats from the local villages. We enjoyed the unforgettable experience of sighting several wild tigers, including a couple of cubs. Aside from the awe of their beauty, large cats are truly fascinating creatures. I learned from one of the locals, a tiger that had passed the fence and wandered into the village. On one such occasion, this tiger returned back to the rainforest and over the 20’ fence… with a full grown bull caught in the grips of his jaw. photography:KRISTINA PETRICK | camera:CANNON 5D MARK III | leopard print dress c/o:MVN | leather biker jacket c/0:ALLSAINTS | combat boots:DR. MARTIN | luxury handbag:YSL   Cats are strong, powerful creatures. The largest of their species have no natural predators. Even house cats are agile and fierce. According to Professor John Huntington, domestic cats’ posture …

inspiration of the season

seasons of the setting sun

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How did we get here. We stood there in the breeze. That moment was right. Even if the road leading there wasn’t perfect. Even if tomorrow was not going to be ok. We stared into the distance. The silent mountains bathed in the clearest of spring lakes. The setting sun slowly painted and re-painted the horizon. Hues changed from the vivid lakes and trees of the day. Sunset transformed the earth to gold. Dusk settled in smokey pinks and blues. It was like watching the earth become reborn overnight. Everything old melted with the sun, only to be brought back to life more beautiful each time. Life has seasons. Some colorful and exciting. Some are crisp and clear, letting you see for miles. Some seasons are hazy and dark. Sometimes it feels like the sun may never rise again. Yet, that beautiful circle of light rises each day. Every day we are reminded we have something to be grateful for. Everyday is reborn, with a chance to start everything new.   We often can’t see …

time is the new luxury

we all just need time

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We got one thing right. Everyone just needs more time. Time to conquer, time to sleep, time to relax, time to think. Time is an element, an element we can never own, only live within. Time is the new luxury. I’ve said it before, and I’ll continue to let my works circle around it. I do this in hopes that as people become more aware, they can appreciate it all the more. Time is eternal, yet so short. The moments we have to breath on this earth pass beneath our feet like floodwaters in a storm. It can drown us if we’re not steadfast. It can also push us forward if we allow ourselves to overcome our obstacles and glide over the waves. Time can also heel. It provides clarity. It provides rest and refreshment as we sleep through the night. As much as you’re hurting, as much as you’re working, it is worse when you cannot allow yourself and your mind the nourishment of time. At times we all feel like we’re a wreck. …

luxury fashion blogger overlooking lake lugano switzerland

living the life you love

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Lugano might just be the most perfect destination. Each year, I have the privilege of traveling to this place to work in our studio. Sometimes, we even get to work outside of the studio. By 5 o’clock, we freed ourselves from the work table littered with magazine clippings. We had been collectively researching the top fashion trends for fall. photography:GAIA GRIGOLETTO | camera:CANNON 5D MARK III |   August and September in Lugano are absolutely beautiful. The destination – Lake Lugano, just a few blocks away from our working studio. The purpose – shooting lifestyle edits for our luxury footwear brand, Naked Feet. After late nights, a determined focus, and hours spilled over different forms of media, we were energized for the release. The air was warm with a hazy overcast. The muted sun created a feeling of comfort. The look had been planned weeks in advance. A ravaging cocktail dress by Elliatt arrived early for the shoot, even before it was available for pre-order at Revolve. There are some perks to being a luxury …

all you need is love

leave a legacy of love, that’s all you need to know

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In a herd of a thoughtless, self-absorbed generation, it’s easy to get lost. It’s easy to be distracted, to forget about others in our quest for happiness and self fulfillment. We seek happiness. We chase our dreams. We desire to leave a legacy. What is success without someone to share it with? What is happiness when no one else is smiling. What is a legacy with no one who will care enough to remember you? We live in an era of darkness, where visions are clouded. We fight, strive and seek for ourselves. We forget about the people around us. We forget that they too are chasing their own dreams and fighting for their own lives. People all around us suffer with emotional damage, baggage and hopelessness. Our mental health is slowly slipping. Not for just those who suffer with severe anxiety or depression – but for everyone. Gasping for air so deeply they can’t imagine sharing their breath with another. Yet, maybe that’s the very thing that keeps us above water. People are made …

how to manage a luxury fashion blog and full time career

12 essential tips to manage a successful luxury fashion blog and full time career

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Since starting my own luxury fashion blog in 2014, one of my most asked questions is how I manage to keep up with a blog while continuing to work a full time career. It’s true, I sometimes find myself asking the same question. But the truth is, with these tips and principals, I am able to double down and earn a sustainable income on the blog, while also slaying my day job on the side – without compromise. A successful blog requires time, effort and focus – but it is still possible to manage alongside a 9-5 (or in my case, an 8-5). Whether you’re interested for fun or want to learn to how to make a stable income on the blog before you ditch the corporate life, here are a few essential tips to get you started. 1: Make fashion your b**** That’s right. If you want to manage basically two full-time jobs, you’re going to need to make fashion your bitch. You want to be good at something? Eat, sleep and dream it. …

luxury fashion blog and the importance of minimalism

the beauty of white space | change your life with nothing

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A break from the mundane, last week’s adventure was a long-form hike up some treacherous grounds for an editorial shoot for Naked Feet shoes. The brand is a footwear label that specializes in unearthing true comfort through simple, luxury style. The concept for the campaign was unbelievable comfort, so these sacchetto styles were shot unbelievable backdrops – namely the Appalachian mountains. photography:JOSH WOLFE MUSIC | camera:CANNON 5D MARK III | luxury shoes:NAKED FEET SHOES   The journey itself was an adventure – from long gravel roads to a broken down car and a few miles hiking up the wrong direction, we never actually made it to the destination. But a loss? Far from it. Not only were we able to capture a beautiful part of nature and fashion colliding, we were able to enjoy the luxury of taking work outside the office breathing in the fresh summer air.  Scaling sharp rocks in heels and luxury fashion? Sign me up. Not a soul was spotted up in this remote sanctuary, and the silence was a blessing …

minimalist lounge wear fashion cashmere sweater and shorts

silence | learning to embrace the luxury of time

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The keys clinked in the dish where I dropped them on the shelf. Then, the house was silent. The laughter, stories, cocktails and dinners had faded to ghosts of the past. That was yesterday. Today, nothing moved or breathed besides my own flesh, returning home from the office and pouring a glass of wine. photography:ME | camera:CANNON 5D MARK III | sustainable organic cotton sweater c/o:STATE CASHMERE (use code: KRISTINA20 for 20% off) It’s always been odd to me that some people resist those moments alone. They often find solace in companionship and conversation. Don’t get me wrong, while deeply introverted in my regeneration, I’m quite a bird in social settings. Yet, there is something rewarding in coming home to nothing but silence. You can hear the birds just outside the windows. There are no distractions. There is time to relax and enjoy a moment of stillness. Life has become chaotic and overrun with stimulation. So much so, that nothing is stimulating at all. That is, all but the luxury of time. Time that we …

time is the new luxury

time is the new luxury

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The fluorescent bulbs flickered and let out a hum. The sound of keys repeated like rain falling on the earth. A faint smell of coffee and someone’s perfume lingered in the air. I stared blankly at the white wall. Once a source of inspiration, it seemed so empty in the moment. Redundancy is creativity’s mortal enemy, but avoiding redundancy is often a lack of structure and discipline. Where does one really find balance? The endlessly growing pile of magazines and spreadsheets didn’t look much different than the year before. There were a few extra documents showing areas of growth in the past year. A few new processes had been made to create a higher level of efficiency and accurate testing. We were watching some new brands and following this year’s marketing trends. Things were progressing forward as they should be, but something was missing. A lack of excitement perhaps, lost sight of the high aspirations for each year. Strangely, those aspirations were met and exceeded, only the vision was lost. It was another day at …